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A very warm welcome to my teeny, tiny part of the huge world of blogging. This is where I share my passion for making hand made greeting cards. So - why "Always with a Heart"? Well this is for two reasons. Firstly, it is because every card I produce carries a heart on it somewhere. This can be big and bold or small and almost hidden - the fun sometimes is just trying to find it! Secondly it is because I put my heart into everything I produce. I hope that any visitors enjoy seeing what I post. If you drop by then please leave me a comment so that I know you called. It would be nice to know that you have found my heart in what I do.

Sunday 4 September 2016

A POST ESPECIALLY FOR MARCIE

Hi Everyone

Happy Sunday!

I hope everyone is well and having a good weekend.

A bit of a different post from me today .. .. and one which is very photo heavy and very long!!!

During the week I received a really lovely email from a lady called Marcie who lives in Minnesota, USA.  Alongside the other things that Marcie wrote was the following:

I bought the Penny Black whispers stamp BUT I do not know how you get the paper in the flowers?  Could you explain this to me?
I am so new at this but this is my favorite stamp of yours.
I think you paper piece it?? But I do not know how.

I did drop an email back to Marcie describing in writing how I do my paper piecing and promised her I would take some pictures and post them to my blog .. .. so that is what I am doing today .. .. after all there may be some other people who call by my blog that might like to know too.

So here we go:


I start by stamping the image twice,
once onto what will be my base layer
and again onto a contrasting piece of patterned paper.

I cut the flowers from the contrasting paper using small scissors
and then run a black marker pen all around the edge

In this instance I am also distressing around
the edge of the flowers with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink
and a finger dauber to give a little more definition
to the edge of the flowers

Next it is time to stick the cut flowers to the base.
Instead of adding glue to the back of the flowers I find it easier
to add the glue to the base layer using a glue pen

Leaving you with this to do with as you wish.

--ooOoo--
and this is what I did with mine:





and I am now going to take it over to Pixie's Snippets Playground because I used lots of snippets for this little creation.


I hope this has helped you Marcie xx

Sadly Marcie doesn't have a blog at the moment so we can't "check her out" but hopefully she will now have lots of fun with her Whispers Penny Black stamp.

So this week has been another manic one .. .. hence my quiet blog .. .. lots of general cards needed for here there and everywhere .. .. but at least it means I have some cards I can share as these have been put into scheduled posts which will be very handy because I have a very busy time ahead. Next Sunday is "Wedding Fayre" day and I have lots of prep to do for that, along with wedding work for current couples, magazine work and general orders.  To be honest I am trying not to think too much about how much is actually on my list because I have a feeling it is going to be very busy right up to the end of January now! 

Right .. .. off to check out how Mr Heart is doing.  It is a landmark day in the House of Hearts today. Those of you who have been following my blog for a while will remember that three years ago he started lifting and re-laying the crazy paved patio.  Well today is the day it will all be finished .. .. including the large area under our pergola!!  It has been a real job and a half for him .. .. and by no stretch of the imagination could you call it a labour of love .. .. but he has persevered and the mission will be complete today.  I showed him some pictures of how it look before he started and he couldn't believe how different it looks.

Hopefully I will have some decent pictures to share another time of the "before" and "after".

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone.

Love Jules xx

21 comments:

Di said...

What a beautiful card Jules and such a helpful paper piecing tutorial for those who find it daunting. Pleased to say I'm doing all the right things - thanks to tips I picked up from you previously :)

It's lovely to see you in the Playground - oh, and I found the heart, snigger :)

Hugs

Di xx

Lynn said...

Hello Jules, I really love your card. I do like the stamp, and the backing papers are such soft colours. It is interesting to see how you start out assembling your cards. I am sure Marcie will be thrilled to get going with her creation now. Lynn

Bonnie said...

Your soft colors and subtle patterns make this a stellar card, Jules! Thanks for sharing how you did it!

Liz said...

A beautiful card, thank you for the tutorial. I've never thought to stamp the main image onto patterned paper. xx

Sarah said...

You are such a lovely lady to share this for Marcie and the rest of us and the end result is gorgeous. I will certainly be edging the cut pieces with a marker from now on...what a great idea. Looking forward to seeing your finished patio xx

Tracey T said...

Such a pretty card, Jules and the step by step photos are so helpful. Just goes to show how the addition of a touch of ink can turn some simple paper-piecing into something sublime! Have a lovely week xx PS Are you considering hiring out Mr Heart now that he has finished the patio?

Kathleen said...

Ohhhhhh just beautiful, my all time favourite PB stamp that I was stupid enough not to buy at the time, if you ever see this stamp for sale anywhere please let me know immediately.

Have a good week.

Kath x

cotnob said...

Such a pretty card Jules and fabulous tutorial on paper piecing.
Well done Mr Heart, I can't wait to see the photographs.
Pauline
x

Lorraine said...

I love the paper pieced flowers and gorgeous papers. Such a pretty card Jules
Lorraine x

Marie-Louise said...

Gorgeous card Jules.

Wendy said...

So beautiful Jules, love it!.. Not thought to ink on edges of my paper piercing, will have to try that it looks great! thanks for the inspiration.
Wendy xx

Carole said...

This is so very pretty Jules...what beautiful soft shades, a fabulous stamp and paper piecing and a wonderful sentiment too! Have a good and productive week my friend.

Aquarius said...

Such a pretty card and a great explanation of the paper piecing. A great tip about putting glue on the background rather than the pieces (one to try) and I like how you added some highlight to the edges of the petals. Thanks for sharing these ideas. Look forward to seeing the crazy paving!

Whisper said...

Oooo gorgeous hun and thanks for the tutorial too - i hope Marcie sees it, Luv Sam x

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Such a pretty card, I love the paper piecing as well.

Sue xx

Brawny x said...

As usual you are very thoughtful helping someone even though you're up to your eyeballs yourself. I wouldn't have thought to add a touch of ink Jules. Absolutely gorgeous card, very pretty. X

Carole J said...

Congratulations on being Di's pick of the week - very well deserved too! I love your card - the papers are so lovely. I'm going to try this technique. Thanks for the tips! xx

Mrs A. said...

Not comments for a while but your easy tutorial had me hanging my head in shame. Never ever thought to stick the glue on the cards and not the itty bis of cut out flower. Duh!!! Found the heart too. Hugs Mrs A.

AlisonC said...

So gorgeous. (I appreciate all the tips).

Sandy said...

Gorgeous card Jules. I came here from the Snippets Playground, and glad I made the trip. I've been paper-piecing for years, and I picked up some great new ideas from your tutorial. thanks

Mervi said...

Lovely and gorgeous card Jules.
Lots of greetings;-))m